In Narrow Alleys of Sudan's Capital, Volunteers Battle Dengue Fever Spread

In the cramped, winding alleys of Khartoum, hundreds of volunteers traverse from home to home, their hands laden with spraying gear and inspection tools as they search for mosquito breeding sites, the primary transmission vector for dengue fever.

Since the beginning of the year, Sudan has faced an outbreak of dengue fever, a viral illness that could be lethal for those infected, with Khartoum being an epicenter.

The Sudanese capital has reported nearly 14,000 cases this year. According to a report released on Tuesday by the Sudanese Health Ministry, seven states reported a total of 3,126 cases between September 20 and 26, with Khartoum accounting for 78 percent of the total.

Sudanese epidemiologist and community medicine specialist Hamza Awadalla linked the dengue outbreak to deteriorating sanitation services, waste buildup, and heavy rains creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.

To build an effective dengue prevention barrier, the Sudanese government recently initiated a campaign aimed at cutting off the transmission of the virus. Mosquito eradication is among the most emblematic endeavors.

Wearing simple, uniform vests, volunteers knock on doors, explain how the disease spreads, and inspect plant containers, narrow drains, and water barrels to eliminate the mosquito breeding grounds.

"We started this campaign knowing our enemy is tiny and hard to see, but its impact is deadly, so we try to reach breeding sites before it reaches people," volunteer Mahmoud Osman from the Al-Azhari neighborhood in southern Khartoum told Xinhua.

Osman said the campaign, led by the health ministry, also seeks to raise public awareness about eliminating mosquito breeding sites and maintaining a clean environment, emphasizing that even small efforts are worthwhile if they can protect a child from contracting the disease.

Volunteer Ahmed Ali, carrying a heavy spray tank, said, "Every time I enter a house and know that I've removed a potential breeding site, I feel like I've saved a life. People may not know my face, but it's enough that a child can sleep safely, protected from a deadly bite."

With Osman and Ali on the team, the health ministry has trained 7,800 inspectors to identify and eliminate breeding sites in household water containers. The goal is to cover approximately 936,000 homes in Khartoum each week.

The campaign, set to cover all areas of Khartoum State, has received widespread support from the residents.

"When I saw the volunteers spraying inside my home and overturning containers, I felt great relief. The disease scares us, but the presence of these young people reassures us that someone stands with us," said Suad Mohamed, a housewife from southern Khartoum.

As part of the broader response, the government has also launched free diagnostic and treatment services in 34 hospitals operating around the clock, carried out 980 ground spraying operations, conducted 10 aerial spraying missions, and implemented extensive indoor fogging.

"The efforts made by the health authorities in Khartoum State are appreciated, but relying on spraying and home inspections alone will not achieve the desired success," Awadalla, the epidemiologist, said, highlighting the urgency of improving the country's fragile health infrastructure.

Sudan continues to be embroiled in a conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023. The violence has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and severely disrupted the country's public services, including healthcare and education.

According to a previous health ministry report, nearly 70 percent of hospitals in conflict-hit states such as Darfur and Kordofan were out of service. More than 250 hospitals nationwide had been forced to close, and over 60 percent of pharmacies and drug warehouses had been looted or destroyed.

While states such as Khartoum have seen a relative improvement in health services, the shortage of medical resources continues to pose a significant challenge for the Sudanese population in managing the dengue fever outbreak, according to Awadalla.